The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra Finally Plays The Entertainer

The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra – Although the bill is dominated by Joplin rags, as it should be, (director) Benjamin also mixes in some other elements from the classic ragtime school; namely, Joseph Lamb, Arthur Marshall, and James Scott in arrangements much kinder to his music than that fashioned by Joplin…the PRO‘s use of period percussion and its greater understanding of the underlying rhythmic punctuations of this music, even exceeds that of the New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble of old. Moreover, these orchestral performances are more relaxed, lightly swinging, and possessed of period charm than most others of their kind. For devotees of the PRO, or ragtime music in general, Rialto Records “PRO Finally Plays the Entertainer” is well worth the wait. –Uncle Dave Lewis (AllMusic)

Published by Decca Jazz Records, Recorded in 1992. Re – released Oct. 2014

Moderato Cantabile – Anja Lechner & Francois Couturier

This cello/piano duo glides on the jazz/classical stream that the German ECM label under Manfred Eicher has almost perfected. “Lechner and Couturier turn to a more thoroughly composed repertoire on Moderato cantabile…. Dark and dancing, mysterious and implicitly beautiful, Lechner and Couturier capture Moderato cantabile‘s meaning—‘moderately and melodiously’—with unfailing empathy to create a deeper understanding of this music than words could ever articulate” (AllAboutJazz.com).

Published by ECM Records, Oct. 2014

The Art of Conversation – Kenny Barron & Dave Holland

This duo of seasoned masters, both on the scene since the 1960s, didn’t begin performing together until 2012. Pianist Kenny Barron and bassist Dave Holland breathe their own life into incredible covers of Thelonious Monk’s “In Walked Bud,” Charlie Parker’s “Segment,” and Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington’s “Daydream,” as well as several captivating originals. Each tune reflects the artistic integrity and easy chemistry between these two jazz giants. – John Gilbreath

Published by Impulse Records, Oct. 2014

Keep Me in Your Heart for a While: the Best of Madeleine Peyroux

“Vocalist and composer Madeleine Peyroux has a stylistic reach well beyond that of jazz…. Her singing is closely set among the elaborate instrumentation, bearing a slight sepia tone without sounding archival. Part of Peyroux’s genius lies in her melding of the new and the old into something that is both new and familiar.”- AllAboutJazz.com.

Published by Rounder Records, Sept. 2014

Intimate Conversations – Dee Daniels

One of the brightest stars of the late-lamented Anacortes Jazz Festival, vocalist Dee Daniels showcases her incredible three-octave range on this 2014 release Intimate Conversations, on Seattle’s Origin jazz label. Pulling from six decades of the American Songbook, Daniels is joined by Wycliffe Gordon, Russell Malone, Martin Wind, and a first-rate band whose talents support her tangible emotion and depth. “If I can’t make the song real to me, there’s absolutely no way I can make it believable to whoever is listening to it,” says Daniels. “If the story is good, if the melody is good, if it has good chord changes, that’s what matters to me.” – John Gilbreath

Published by Origin Records, Sept. 2014

Magic Sergio Mendes

In his Okeh label debut, the famous pop/bossa nova master of the mid 1960s employs some of today’s contemporary pop stars, ranging from John Legend, to will.i.am., to Janelle Monae; all of whom shine on this funky, ultra-current, and commanding record. – John Gilbreath

Published by Okeh Records, June 2014

Over Time: Music of Bob Brookmeyer VANGUARD JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Pianist and trombonist, Bob Brookmeyer has become one of the most celebrated composers and arrangers of late 20th Century big-band jazz. This recording brings vibrant life to work that spans over 30 years of contributions.

Published by Planet Arts, Dec. 2014

Charles Lloyd, Manhattan Stories (2 CDs)

Manhattan Stories is a trip back in time to an often overlooked era of the New York jazz scene. “It’s a window into the great (saxophonist) Charles Lloyd’s art at a period of transition.” (AllAboutJazz)

The two shows presented on this beautifully packaged two-disc set—one recorded in the summer of 1965, at the infamous Slugs’ Saloon in the negatively notorious East Village, the other recorded at the Judson Hall concert room in September of the same year.